Changing faces...

Living in Canterbury is an unusual experience. I have lived where I live, 30 minutes north of Christchurch, for the past 14 years. I know where all the best shops are in town and where to find the best cup of coffee. Five years ago I discovered the New Zealand Ballet and adore attending performances at our magnificent old theatre. Family trips into town include visits to our new contemporary art gallery, strolling through the recently developed lanes with their eclectic collection of shops, restaurants and bars, and wandering the shops and weekend stalls at The Arts Centre. For many years we have celebrated special occasions at restaurants in the city including Valentinos, The Twisted Hop, The Flying Burrito Brothers...

But we can't do any of that anymore - maybe never again.

My little family, like many others, now live in a different place. And we got here without the inconvenience of packing cartons, moving house and changing schools. It's a little like that strange phenomena you experience when sitting in a parked car and suddenly get a fright thinking you are moving forward, when in fact it is the car beside you driving back. We are disorientated.

I visited the city yesterday to go to a Spotlight store in what was a drab little mall in a not very vibrant part of Colombo Street. But that was pre earthquake. It has now reinvented itself and is called 'The Colombo'. The retail space has been leased by some fabulous shops, the cafes were humming with the lunch crowd, and for the first time ever I had trouble finding a space in the carpark. I also had a wonderful experience last week visiting the Container Mall 'Re-Start' in the old Cashel Mall for a meeting on my new business 'Piece'. This is a wonderfully innovative temporary solution to finding retail space for displaced shop keepers, and the vibe around the place was energising.

We are living in an incredibly dynamic environment at the moment in Canterbury and if you are like me, with an entrepreneurial spirit, it's hard not to get excited by the possibilities. 

One very cool example of the changing face of Christchurch is the As Far As Eye Can See art installation by Multiply Collective in a unused shop on the corner of Colombo and Elgin Streets. This fibre artwork is being auctioned to raise funds for Christchurch and Gap Filler. Gap Filler aims to temporarily activate vacant sites with creative projects.

It is quite lovely, but a little difficult to get a good photo of through the glass.

Also happening in Christchurch is the Container Love initiative. This is about gathering enough knitted or crocheted 30cm squares to sew together and cover some of the containers currently protecting the Sumner community from rock falls that have plagued the town since the February eathquake. Here is the square I sent off yesterday.

I have been working on a number of projects. Yes. All at the same time. I am experimenting with these stitchery designs that received a great response from my facebook followers.

I have used a varigated thread for this one and a red colouring in pencil.  

This one I have coloured in the reverse spaces and used a one tone thread...and currently in the hoop...

I will have more on these when I decide what I am going to do with them. I hope you are having fun and making time to be creative too.

Happy stitching!

 

Comments

[Annette]

Hi Fiona, lovely to hear that Christchurch is finding a "vibe", I have only visited once but loved Christchurch & surrounding areas and was sad to see the hurt & damage. Luv Annette

[Rose]

Loving the transformation at what was once the Spotlight Plaza, and yes I too have struggled to get a carpark of late. Your new stitcheries look great, well done! I'm busy with my many Christmas projects atm, with many plenty of projects to work on come the New Year. Hope the your daughter had an awesome time on her recent travels - Rose x

[Tracy Young]

Those stitcheries look just like my Cathedral rose window pendant. Have a look on the Arts Centre beadshop website (now at Cranford st). Thanks for the description of Spotlight. I hadn't realised they had opened. There is something new coming to Bush Inn like a spotlight but another company which will be right near me.

[Kim C]

Your stitcheries in progress are just lovely! Thank you for sharing with us.. :0)